Fianna Fáil meet in tribute to Seán Staunton

COLLEAGUES ?SeΡn Dorgan, General Secretary, Fianna FΡil pictured with John Healy, Renewal Committee, Castlebar (left) and the late SeΡn Staunton, Westport, then Comhairle DΡilcheantair Chairman in 2011.?Grianghraf: Cormac Ó Cionnaith

Fianna FΡil meet in tribute to SeΡn Staunton


Glowing tributes have been paid to the late SeΡn Staunton at a specially convened meeting of Mayo Fianna FΡil DΡil Ceantar at the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar.
A capacity attendance gathered to honour the memory of the late party stalwart, who died in November. SeΡn, who was chairman of the DΡil Ceantar as well as having served as a party councillor on Westport UDC, also served the party in several capacities all his life.
Leading the tributes, Dara Calleary, TD, announced that plans were in hand to initiate a memorial scholarship in Mr Staunton’s name, in recognition of his special interest in education and in the further development of adult education, in particular.
Deputy Calleary said that Sean Staunton was a man of honour who had earned universal respect as a public representative in his native Westport, as a distinguished and impartial newspaper editor at The Mayo News, and as a pivotal figure in Fianna FΡil in Mayo and nationally.
The meeting was presided over by Peter Caulfield, vice chairman of the DΡil Ceantar, who said that the special meeting had been called in response to numerous requests from party members around the county, to give an opportunity to the party to record its appreciation and thanks for what Sean Staunton had accomplished for Fianna FΡil.
 
Clear logic and judgement
Members spoke of SeΡn Staunton’s courtesy as chairman of the DΡil Ceantar, and his ability to conduct meetings so that every point of view was heard, and that decisions were arrived at fairly and democratically. Many recalled his readiness with help and advice at all times, and his clear and logical judgement in guiding the party through periods of difficulty.
Constituency organiser, Denis Gallagher, spoke of SeΡn’s commitment and loyalty to his native Westport and said that the respect shown to him crossed all political divides, reflecting the broad vision which he had for the town and the community.
Former TD and Minister, SeΡn Calleary, was among the many who attended to pay tribute to the late chairman, recalling SeΡn Staunton’s quiet but determined efforts to document and present Westport’s needs even to the highest echelons of the EU in Brussels. Current and past members of Mayo County Council joined in the tributes, including Cllrs Annie May Reape, Blackie Gavin, Paul McNamara and Al McDonnell, and former councillors Michael McNamara, Pat Conway and SeΡn Nestor.
PJ McGrath of Claremorris and Nora Conroy, Carnacon, both of whom served with SeΡn Staunton on Mayo VEC, spoke of his unrivalled knowledge of the education system, and his thoughtful and constructive input into the development of second level education in Mayo.
Sense of honour
Michael Moran, one of Sean’s oldest friends and colleague from Fianna FΡil in Westport, paid tribute to his sincerity and sense of honour in all he did, and his comments were endorsed by Joan Tobin, Jackie Bolster, Paddy Muldoon, Tommie Joe Jennings and Tommie Duggan, chair of Westport Comhairle Ceantar, all of whom spoke of the great sense of loss in Westport at his passing.
 Among the many others who joined in the tributes were Leonard Ryan, Mayo Ard Comhairle representative; Noel Mullen, Ballina,joint treasurer; John McEllin, Paddy Walshe and Faela McEllin, who described SeΡn as the benign father figure of the organisation.
At the conclusion, Depurty Calleary was thanked for his initiative in the proposed SeΡn Staunton Memorial scholarship, and all present pledged full support to the proposal.